THE " GREATEST
" INDABA
FOREWORD:
This Indaba was the most intense, and special occasion that I have ever
experienced. We attended a ceremony, conducted by a white man, to "send
over" or "free" the spirit of a black man.
This Indaba, with all of it's intensity, showed the sensitivity of some of us to
the spiritual wishes of others, regardless of race or colour.
THE INDABA:
(for sensitivity reasons, we cannot give explicit details as to the site of this
Indaba. Those who attended will understand, and hopefully agree to this special silence.)
We met at the designated meeting place
along the Bruce Highway... Hours seemed to pass as we watched each vehicle, hoping to see
one of our group....
(It is absolutely amazing how much
traffic traverses that road.....)
As the sun eased it's way down towards
the west, the last of our group arrived, and we made off towards our destination....
Our vision in our rear view mirrors, was
of a huge storm, brewing itself larger, and following us ....
We continued on... a convoy of
wonderers, believers, and just interesred people, all converging, to become a group who
would experience something special.
We arrived at the old forestry complex,
and set about doing the menial things like setting out out sleeping bags, and putting the
kettle on....
As the evening progressed, we all
waited, our bodies tinglng with excitement at
the thought of that which would occur later...
The storm, as we saw it, was huge, but it ceased to follow us, and made it's
way elsewhere, creating it's havoc in other areas...
The full moon signalled the "mass
movement" to the rock.
We all squeezed into various 4WDS
vehicles to ascend the mountain....
On arrival, we chose our "body
painting", with some choosing to don the full, upper body painting of the mourning
male aboriginal, and some choosing the facial painting of a visitor....
We assembled on the "ROCK" and
began a ceremony to free the spirit of Dhakanguini, (David) the grasstree boy....
Brett led the ceremony, and we all
followed, enthralled by the "depth" of the spiritual needs of
"David"............................
Suffice to say, that the ceremony was a
success..... David, Dhakanguini, the grasstree boy, was freed from his
earthly bounds, caused by the calous actions of those who had no interest, nor care for
the spiritual wellbeing of another.....
Those of us who attended, and
participated in this ceremony, ALL experienced something special.... Be it the full
moon shining at the "right time", or the Winds of Departure, showing their
ability to switch direction.........
The interesting point is, that all of us
were "white"....... yet we were all so intent on seeing the spirit of
Dhakanguini off to the skyworld, where he belonged....
(maybe there is more to "racial problems", attributable to socio economic
problems, and that if we "limit" our thoughts to things "spiritual",
then the tensions, and "attitudes", would melt away into a life of
understanding and brotherhood........ )
We were SOOOOOO happy after the ceremony that, once back at the camp, a
"holiday" atmosphere prevailed, and we laughed, and chatted, and munched, and
had a "white man's wake", but the underlying thoughts were for
David.
"He is Free" ...
"The Ancestors have him with them"....
Some other "interesting"
events occured that night, but for now, will stay unsaid, until those who had the
experience, give their permission to relate the tales...
At an unseen signal, we all retired to
our sleeping bags, only to have a disturbed sleep, (blamed on those of us who snorred....)
The next day dawned bright and
wonderful...
We breakfasted heartily, and decided to
make our way back up the mountain....
|
|
Climbing.... |
The big tree... |
We stopped at the
"Goanna Spirit tree" along the way, and learned of it's significance....
Then we headed right to the top of the
range to view a piece of history....
|
|
At the Hut |
Still at the hut.... |
| |
|
|
|
In the BUSH |
Needing space.... |
The hut stood strong and
defiant as a symbol of the enduring nature of Australian timber.
Although many of us had been here before, the events of the night before, gave us a
new sense of awe at that which we were seeing.... The material remains of a man who was so
far ahead of his time.... A man with tolerance to those of other cultures.... A man
with a desire to learn, not condemn... A man who had compassion, not hate or fear, of
other cultures... A man of true spiritual nature, yet with a pioneering spirit.
This was truly a spiritual experience.
Back
About Indaba Future
Indabas |
